20 Dec '06-00:28
CheckBook Tracker Check Printing HOWTO
I've received quite a bit of feedback of people having problems getting CheckBook Tracker to print checks.Well, it DOES print checks, and it will print a run of hundreds or more at a time if you tell it to.
The problem appears to be that people just don't know how to tell it to...
So, here's some basic instructions:
Many users will want to have both a carry-along checkbook and printed checks. These will use different numbers. The idea is that you can enter your daily checks normally, but when it comes to paying bills, print out 1 to 30 at a time that you have already queued.
If you want a check to be printed in a batch, you enter it like a normal check, but change the transaction number to "Print". You can enter many checks at a time this way. They will NOT immediately print. See the screenshot below:
All checks you wish to print must be entered prior to printing the batch. If you try to leave CBT without printing checks in the queue, it will warn you - but it doesn't HURT to leave with checks flagged to be printed.
Once you have 2,3 or even 30 checks in your CBT register, all who's check number says "Print" will be printed when you select "Print Checks" from the file menu.
You will then have the option of designating the starting check number, and telling how many checks are remaining on the first page (in case you used one of them from that page last batch.) See the screen below:
Notice that it automatically knew it was printing three checks, because I had selected three checks as check number "Print" when I entered them (see first screenshot.) If last time I printed, the last page of checks had only used one check, I'd change the number of checks on the first page to be "2". The starting check number would be the first check on the first page of the preprinted forms.
Once the batch is printed, all checks that were flagged for printing will have the corresponding check number replaced in the CBT check register, UNLESS you select "REPRINT", and then it will assume nothing has happened.
The real power comes in if you schedule a recurring transaction to be auto-entered every month with a transaction type of "Print". Then all you have to do is open CBT the day your bills are due and select "Print Checks".
If it doesn't seem to print aligned just right (some printers or forms may differ) you have complete control over the placement of all printing fields in the settings dialog.
See, it's really quite simple. Just hitherto undocumented... ;-)
